Perhaps the most comprehensive of the social sciences, sociology is concerned with the analysis and explanation of social phenomena. These phenomena, which range from the socialization of the child to criminal behavior and cultural change, are studied and investigated using a wide variety of research techniques. Through formalized standards of inquiry, sociologists focus on the relationships between the parts of social systems and how the systems are formulated, how they function, and how they are related to the everyday lives of human beings.

In addition, students can combine each of the four majors mentioned above with another academic discipline to form a combined major.

The department also supports the following interdisciplinary majorss:

Crime and Justice (sociology-political science-psychology),

Child and Family Studies (sociology-psychology)

Environmental Studies (social sciences - environmental science).

Core Courses

This diversity of majors covers a wide range of topics, but they are unified by a set of core requirements for all students in the department (with the exception of the environmental studies interdisciplinary major). These “Core Courses” include:

101: Introduction to Sociology (or ANT101 for Anthropology Majors)210: Research Methods211: Statistics213: Social Theory (Anthropology students have other course options to satisfy this requirement).490: Senior Seminar

(Some substitutions are allowed in the above for students combining in another social science with similar required courses and those with interdisciplinary majors. These are noted below).

Appropriate academic skills are also ensured at each level in that all 300 level courses (excluding 400 level Anthropology) require a sophomore standing or above as a pre-requisite and all 400 level Sociology (excluding 400 level Anthropology) courses require a junior standing or above. Courses at the 400 level also have as a prerequisite that all other core courses be completed in addition to at least one additional 300 level course. Many other prerequisites exist for individual courses to ensure that students can build on a specific set of foundational skills in their upper level courses.

The sociology major is designed for students who are interested in a general, though intensive, study of sociological methodology, theory and content areas. Students with a major in sociology can find employment in business and government, in human service organizations, international organizations, as politicians, educators, journalists, social researchers and in foreign service. The general sociology major is intended primarily for students who plan to attend law school or pursue graduate study in sociology. It is also intended for those who seek careers in business, governmental, or community service occupations for which graduate school training is unnecessary.

Requirements

All of the following core requirements:

101: Introduction to Sociology (fulfills general studies social science course)